Tech Talk

John Belizaire has gone from architecting systems at Intel to selling two tech companies and now building data centres powered by renewable energy that would otherwise go unused. As CEO of Soluna Holdings, he’s making the case that computing for AI, crypto, and beyond can be clean, flexible, and profitable. We talk about why he made the leap from software to solar, how to turn wasted energy into opportunity, and what it really takes to build a business with purpose at its core.

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Over the past few years, industrial AI has moved from boardroom buzzword to factory floor reality. It’s now being deployed to streamline operations, cut energy costs, reduce waste, and strengthen supply chains. And as other nations double down, Malaysia finds itself at a crossroads: move fast or risk being priced out and left behind.

The recent launch of the National AI Office signals ambition, but real impact will depend on whether industries here can move beyond pilot projects and into full-scale transformation. And with geopolitical pressures like upcoming US tariffs on the horizon, the clock is ticking.

So what does it take for Malaysia’s industries to seize the industrial intelligence edge?

Joining me to explore this is Saadi Kermani, Vice President of Digital Business Operations at AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software. We’ll discuss where Malaysia stands, what’s working globally, and how we can prepare our people, our plants, and our policies for what’s next.

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On this oddly timed edition, Matt and Rich hike into the uncanny valleys of machine music. From the Laurel Canyon folk rockers that never existed, to featured artist scams, AI generated music is heading to a playlist near you. 

Is Mattsplained’s new country anthem AI slop or simply the best? Does Richard really own a sequined jumpsuit or have his own intro music to announce it? These are questions that no one ever thought to answer before the advent of AI.

Slop, scams and copyright strikes. We’re truly halfway to hell.

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Malaysia is producing more tech graduates than ever, yet many still struggle to land the right jobs. Hackathons are changing that — evolving from coding contests into platforms for peer learning, coaching, and real-world problem solving. Alex Liew, Chairman at PIKOM, and TK Choo, Director at Kabel, join us to unpack how hackathons are bridging the employability gap while helping businesses attract and retain digital-savvy talent.

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Like a hungry Pac-Man after too many power ups, AI is coming for the career ladder itself. The grunt work is gone, replaced by break-free LLMs, while coffee machines ping mournfully ping inside empty office spaces.

This week Matt and Rich explore the empirical implications of AI in the workplace. A generational hollowing out of talent. The $10,000 search for work. The grey ceiling facing Gen X execs. And wonder whether it could all be solved with a little empathy.

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AI is reshaping industries worldwide, but Malaysia’s digital journey has its own challenges and opportunities. We speak with Prateek Pashine, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Maxis, about a new IDC Infobrief study commissioned by Maxis Business, the B2B arm of leading integrated telco Maxis, on AI adoption and digital transformation among Malaysian enterprises. They discuss how Malaysian businesses compare with our regional peers, the barriers holding us back, and how we can move from small-scale pilots to impactful AI-driven transformation.

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Decades of mid-morning mania, questionable (sleep) hygiene and an anesthetist’s worst nightmare, Matt Armitage is the closest thing to being professionally awake we can imagine. Coherence is a separate issue. 

Rich and Matt explore the contradictions and myth of that eternal essential: sleep. Looking at the scale of sleep problems, the emerging science and policy around sleep and the sometimes questionable products and industries that exploit our fear of insomnia and somnolence.

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AI isn’t just helping us shop anymore—it’s starting to decide how we shop. In Southeast Asia, and especially in Malaysia, consumers are embracing AI but still asking the big question: Can we trust it?

In this episode, we unpack SleekFlow’s latest Southeast Asia AI Whitepaper and explore the launch of AgentFlow, their new sales-first AI agent designed to power the next generation of e-commerce omnichannels. 

Joining us is Asnawi Jufrie, Vice President & General Manager for Southeast Asia at SleekFlow, to discuss:

• How AI is changing buying behaviour in the region

• What businesses must do to build trust-first AI experiences

• Why AgentFlow could evolve the way Southeast Asia shops going forward

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The brain worms might be slowing him down this week, but Matt Armitage is no stranger to parasites. This week we’re back inside the world of startups, fraud and outright scams. From the accounting magic of Enron to the gilded isles of FTX, Matt and Rich explore the threads that tie them together. 

Is it greed, FOMO, a hero in a half shell (it’ll make sense once you listen)? As AI enters the mix, have we left the world of observable reality behind and traded it for the alternative facts of the snake oil sellers?

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Online safety has always been a concern, but in a world increasingly shaped by AI, scams, and digital manipulation, it’s become a critical public issue. New Zealand-based NGO Netsafe has been working on the frontlines of online harm for over two decades, empowered by the Harmful Digital Communications Act to receive complaints, investigate abuse, and mediate digital disputes.

We speak with Brent Carey, CEO of Netsafe, about how the organisation balances a tech-positive approach with real-world harm reduction. We dive into how youth-led initiatives like the Youth Action Squad are reshaping online safety, how online scams are evolving, and what Malaysia can learn from New Zealand’s model of digital governance.

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